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Rea D.Cichocki, MSG (R) US ArmyNorthern CommanderNor-Cal American Indian Veteran Assoc.A.I.V.A

CALIFORNIA

Enrique Rudino, SFC (R) US ARMYFirst Vice CommanderNor-Cal American Indian Veteran Assoc. A.I.V.A.

California Rural Indian Health Board, Inc.2015 Wellness Conference

“Warrior’s Move Among UsJune 1, 2015

Warrior’s Move Among UsLearning objectives

1. Military Cultural, Rank structural

2. History of PTSD – Combat Veteran

3. Watch video “Now, After: “Contains graphic images”

4. Understand PTSD Individual/Family/Community

5. Native methods of Holistic Healing, Cultural activities

6. Suicide Prevention and Awareness

7. Rea’s Story

Military Cultural may be defined as a way of life for a group of people - by their behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without thinking about them, and are passed along by communication and imitation from one generation to the next.

As so with the following:

Hierarchy Practices Structural Sacrifice Experience Commitment Integrity Loyalty

Organization Hard work Team work

Goals Respect Self Control

PRIDE

Military Cultural

NH Department of Health and Human Services

Military Branches and Rank ARMY (AR) ………………………………….……SoldierNAVY (USN)………………..................................... SailorMARINE CORPS (USMC) .....................................Marine AIR FORCE (USAF) …………………………...….AirmanAIR NATIONAL GUARD (ANG)…………………AirmanCOAST GUARD (CG)…………………….…….… GuardianARMY NATIONAL GUARD (ARNG)………..Citizen SoldiersARMY RESERVE (AR)……………….............…....Reservist

Enlisted……………………….E-1 through E-9Warrant Officers……………..W-1 through W5Commissioned Officers………0-1 through 0-10

Army Structural*Squad (12), *Platoon (48), *Company 4 to 5 platoons, *Battalion 4 to 5 companies, *Brigade 4 to 6 battalions*Division 4 to 5 brigades

The Veteran is someone who, at one point in his/her life,wrote a blank check made payable 'To My Country'

for an amount "up to and including my life.“ “As of 2001, 144 women have died in Combat”,

VETERANS are also; Wives; Mothers; Daughters; Sisters; Aunts; or Nieces in some instances they are Grandmothers

Many of Women have served in defense of “AMERICA” with Dedication, Courage and Patriotism in times of conflict

and times of peace .

WE ARE THE WOMEN VETERANS,

“WE ARE THE WOMEN WARRIORS”

The Veteran

Physically harsh; Mentally demanding; Dangerous; Chaos; No Privacy; No Alcohol; No Family; No Civilian Friends; Destruction and death, yet…

The War-Zone Environment today

en

Men and Women volunteer their service in the Military

P T S D Universal wounding of People in war…this happens to the heart, mind and soul

Noted since ancient times, known around the world, PTSD has 80 namesHere are a few: “Nostalgia” “Shell Shock” “Combat Neurosis” “Combat Exhaustion” “Battle Fatigue” “Soldier’s heart” “Exhausted heart.” “Dead Eyes”

Post-Traumatic Stress is a normal set of reactions to a trauma such as war, which could be experienced by almost anyone. With the passage of time when feelings or issues related to trauma are not dealt with, but are suppressed, the symptoms can manifest into PTSD. A delayed stress reaction may surface after many years and include some of the following….

Redwood Vet Center, Team Leader Deborah Reeves. LCSW

Delayed stress reaction may surface after many years and include some or all of the following:

• Anger, Irritability, nervousness, and rage• Depression, anxiety, and paranoia• Difficulty trusting others• Feelings of guilt over acts committed or witnessed, the failure to prevent

certain events or merely having survived while others did not. Also know as Moral Injury• Recurring thoughts or memories of the trauma• Isolation and alienation from others• Difficulty sleeping, nightmares• Substance abuse or Self medicate• Low tolerance to stress• Feelings of grief or sadness

“”Understand that each person is different and each injury is different andRequires different methods of application to provide a healing””

P T S D

Redwood Vet Center, Team Leader Deborah Reeves. LCSW

P T S D

Risk Factors

Substance Abuse IncarcerationPoverty Domestic Violence

Unemployment Historical trauma Homelessness Suicide

Family Dysfunction Child AbuseDiscrimination

P T S D P T S D

Veteran Population in the United States

There are an Estimate 22.7 million Veterans2.0 million are WOMEN Veterans

Veterans of all ErasWorld War II

KoreaVietnam

Persian GulfIraq

AfghanistanOther conflicts (e.g. Bosnia, Somalia, etc.)

Peace Time

(US Department of Veterans Affairs 2010)

“Now, After”

PTSD From a Soldier’s point of View(contains graphic imagery)

A film by Soldier/ Veteran/ Student produced SSG Kyle Hausmann-Stokes (2009) University of Southern Calif. 2009

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkWwZ9ZtPEl

Native American Veterans as Warrirs

As the 20th century came to a close, nearly 190,000 Native Americans served in the military. As of today 20,000 Native Americans live in California

WHY?

Historically, Native Americans have the highest record of service per capita when compared to other ethnic groups

• “They are not afraid to engage the enemy in battle”

• “Native people are devoted to the survival of their people and their homeland, warriors will lay down their lives for the preservation of their culture”

• “They have a Proud Warrior Tradition”

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P T S D – Therapy Wheel How it may effect a person

Starting HERE Normal Life

Overwhelming Severe PTSD

Gradually development of symptoms

The Good way

Moral injury is not invisible to outsiders, its effects are more apparent. Retired Navy psychiatrist said, “That if we had the wherewithal to do

research Moral injury would underline veteran Homelessness, Criminal behavior, and Suicide.

U.S. Marines carry a wounded comrade hit by an Improvised Explosive Device to a medical evacuation helicopter in November 2011.

MORAL INJURY

By David Wood March 18, 2014 Damned If They Kill, Damned If They Don’t”

P T S D

Family and Community RolesVeterans must integrate into LIFE with Family, Friends and Community. We must Recognize and Identify our Strengths

Provide Insight as a VILLAGE

Welcome Home Ceremonies Elder Involvement Prayer

Family Connectedness Life Skills Healthy Living

Extended Family Healing Ceremonies Pow Wows Dance

Story Telling Sweats Survival Skills Plant Medicine Singing Arts Physical Resources (Food) Vision Quest Circles of Healing Father Hood White Bison

What Do You Have To Offer?

Protective FactorsNative Wellness is a concept of living in balance and harmony, within yourself, in

your relationships with others and in your place in the world.

Culture is the way of life that a society has chosen to follow - their practices, beliefs and values. These may evolve into other things over time as the people and the things around them change. Traditions are the practices that have not changed over time. We may choose to follow them or not but they do not change. Ceremonies Events that are spiritual and take place to signify something sacred or special. It can also be a celebration; a cleansing; or healing for ourselves, others, and community. Clans Used to give us a sense of belonging and identity. Many tribal groups in North America have clans. For example, in the southwest – Water Clan; in the northeast – Turtle Clan; in the northwest - Raven Clan. Rituals Special events that help prepare us for an activity or event. Ceremonies, smudging, dance, song, or spiritual practice are examples

22 Veterans Commit Suicide WITHIN 24 HOURS

California deaths by Suicide from; 2006 – 2011….42, 734

RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS

Hopelessness, feeling like there’s no way out Rage or Anger Anxiety. Agitation, Sleeplessness, or mood swings Reason like there is no reason to live Engaging in risky activities without thinking Increase Alcohol or Drug abuse Withdrawn from family and friends

SUICIDE

SUICIDEThese Signs require immediate attention

Thinking about hurting or killing them self Looking for ways to kill them self Talking about Death, dying, or Suicide Self-Destructive behavior such as drug abuse, weapons,

etc. Veteran Begins to give away personal items

Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 #1

HOW YOU CAN HELP Outreach and serve as an Advocate for men and women Veterans.

Raise awareness and educate others, so that Veterans self identify and understand the benefits to which they are entitled.

Encourage Veterans to apply for Benefits and Services, such as; Home Loans, GI Bill for education, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Training, and Health Care and Native Holistic Healing etc.

Collaborate and work with local VA Medical Center, Vet Centers,, and Veterans Service Organizations to facilitate Veterans obtaining services.

Know of the other Veteran Services available in your local area where veterans live

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS Volunteers of America, End Homelessness, Transform communities,

Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC)

California Indian Manpower Consortium Inc. (CIMC)

Capitol Area Indian Resources, Inc. (CAIR)

Indian Health Services (IHS) must sign MOU with Veterans Administration for benefits

Forgotten Soldier Program, (Alternative Healing) 530-889-2300

Swords to Plowshares; www.swords-to-plowshares.org, 415-552-4788

One Stop Center for Veterans, Job Leads, Resume, Dress for Success,

Local Employment Development Department (EDD)

Veterans Service Organization; AMVETS, American Legion,

DAV, VFW, Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans, Sensory Impaired, Co. Service Office

Cal-Vet……………VA Home Front…..

California Rural Indian Health Board (CRIHB)

Rea’s Story38 years of Military Service, 3 years in Iraq

1. Department of Veterans Affairs; www.va.gov Office of Policy and Planning

2. Vet Center, Eureka, CA.

3. Team AMVETS Suicide Prevention H/O; https://calamvets.org/

Native Americans Veterans names on Wall; www.calie.org

SAMHSA Cultural Card; 1-877-725-4727

Native Wellness Institute Leading the next Generations, Native Ways H/O

Reference Books:

“Thanks You For Your Service” – David Finkel, 2013 PICADOR

“Warrior’s Return – Restoring the Soul After War” – Edward Tick, PhD, 2014 Sounds True

“War and the Soul” Healing Our Nation’s Veterans from PTSD – Edward Tick, PhD, 2005 Quest Books

“The Evil Hours” Biography of PTSD – David J. Morris, 2015 HMH

“redeployment” – phil klay, 2014 PENGUIN BOOKS

California Veterans Resource Book, Cal-Vet 2014, Hard Copy, or Digital format on their web site

Other reference upon request.

REFERENCES

Questions ?Thank You for attending our presentation

“Warriors Move Among Us”

By Rea D. Cichocki: reacichocki@yahoo.comEnrique Rudino: reawakenspirit@att.net